Setting up hybrid coded-light - ZigBee lighting system

ABSTRACT

A lighting system ( 100 ) comprising a central lighting device ( 111 ), at least one satellite lighting device ( 121, 131 ), and a controller ( 141 ) for adjusting light settings, is provided. The controller is arranged for transmitting, in response to a user request ( 140 ), an association request over a first communication link ( 142 ). The central lighting device is  arranged for receiving the association request and re-transmitting the association request over a second communication link by means of coded light ( 112 ). The satellite lighting device is arranged for transmitting, in response to receiving the association request, its identifier to the central lighting device. The identifier is only transmitted if an association process is enabled. The association process is enabled, in response to a user request, during a limited time period. The central lighting device is further arranged for associating, in response to receiving the identifier, the satellite lighting device with the central lighting device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates in general to lighting systems, and morespecifically to setting up a coded light network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A coded light illumination network typically comprises one center lightsource and one or more satellite light sources. The light sources may,e.g., be light bulbs based on solid-state light sources. The centrallight source is capable of communicating by visible coded light inaddition to another communication protocol, such as ZigBee, WiFi, orBluetooth. The satellite light sources, on the other hand, are onlycapable of communicating by means of visible coded light.

A user of a coded light network typically controls the light sourcesusing a lighting control device, such as a hand-held remote control or awall-mounted control device. The light settings of the light sources arecontrolled by control information which is transmitted from the lightingcontrol device to the central light source. This control information iscarried by a first communication link, such as ZigBee, WiFi, orBluetooth, and by forwarding the control information from the centrallight source to the satellite light sources by way of a secondcommunication link, i.e., coded light. In response to receiving thecontrol information, the light sources adjust properties of the emittedlight, such as on/off, the intensity, or the color, in accordance withthe control information.

When installing lighting systems comprising light sources which arecapable of communicating via ZigBee, WiFi, or Bluetooth, the lightsources are typically linked to, i.e., associated with, a controller ofthe lighting system by way of proximity detection. This may, e.g., beachieved by holding the controller close to a light source, whereuponthe light source detects, based on the received signal strength, theclose proximity of the controller and links, or associates, the lightsource with the controller.

In coded light networks, however, the satellite light sources cannotdirectly communicate with the controller. Instead, the communication,and, in particular, the association, is effected by communication viathe central light source which acts as a proxy. However, setting up acoded light network is hampered by interference from other satellitelight sources within sight, but which do not belong to the lightingsystem to be commissioned. As a consequence, a satellite lighting deviceof a neighboring coded light network may accidentally be associated withthe central lighting device of the lighting system to be commissioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more efficientalternative to the above techniques and prior art.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved way of associating, in a coded light network, satellitelighting devices with a central light device.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by meansof a lighting device having the features defined in independent claim 1,by means of a lighting device having the features defined in independentclaim 4, and by means of a method of a lighting system defined inindependent claim 12. Embodiments of the invention are characterized bythe dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a lighting device isprovided. The lighting device comprises a light source, firstcommunication means, second communication means, and controlling means.The light source is arranged for emitting coded light. The firstcommunication means is arranged for transmitting and receiving data overa first communication link. The communication over the firstcommunication link is preferably effected by means of a wirelessradio-frequency based technology, such as ZigBee, WiFi, or Bluetooth.The second communication means is arranged for transmitting andreceiving data over a second communication link. The communication overthe second communication link is effected by means of the coded lightemitted by the light source. The controlling means is arranged forreceiving an association request over the first communication link,transmitting the association request over the second communication link,receiving an identifier of a satellite lighting device over the secondcommunication link, and associating the satellite lighting device withthe lighting device. The light source may, e.g., be a solid-state lightsource. The associating of the satellite lighting device with thelighting device may, e.g., be effected by storing the receivedidentifier at the lighting device. Alternatively, the receivedidentifier may be forwarded, over the first communication link, to alighting control device, where it may be stored. The identifier of thesatellite lighting device may, e.g., be a unique number or networkaddress. In the following, an embodiment of the lighting deviceaccording to the first aspect of the invention is referred to as acentral lighting device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a lighting device isprovided. The lighting device comprises a light source, communicationmeans, and controlling means. The light source is arranged for emittingcoded light. The communication means is arranged for transmitting andreceiving data over a second communication link. The communication overthe second communication link is effected by means of the coded lightemitted by the light source. The controlling means is arranged forreceiving an association request over the second communication link, andtransmitting an identifier of the lighting device over the secondcommunication link. The identifier is transmitted under the conditionthat an association process is enabled. The light source may, e.g., be asolid-state light source. The identifier may, e.g., be a unique numberor network address. In the following, an embodiment of the lightingdevice according to the second aspect of the invention is referred to asa satellite lighting device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method of a lightingsystem is provided. The lighting system comprises a lighting controldevice, a central lighting device, and a satellite lighting device. Thelighting system may comprise a plurality of satellite lighting devices.The lighting control device and the central lighting device are arrangedfor communicating over a first communication link. The communicationover the first communication link is preferably effected by a wirelessradio-frequency based technology, such as ZigBee, WiFi, or Bluetooth.The central lighting device and the satellite lighting device arearranged for communicating over a second communication link. Thecommunication over the second communication link is effected by means ofthe coded light. The method comprises, at the lighting control device,transmitting, in response to a user request, an association request overthe first communication link. The method further comprises, at thecentral lighting device, receiving the association request, andtransmitting the association request over the second communication link.The method further comprises, at the satellite lighting device,receiving the association request, and transmitting an identifier of thesatellite lighting device over the second communication link. Theidentifier is transmitted under the condition that an associationprocess is enabled. The method further comprises, at the centrallighting device, receiving the identifier of the satellite lightingdevice, and associating the satellite lighting device with the centrallighting device. The identifier of the satellite lighting device may,e.g., be a unique number or network address.

The present invention makes use of an understanding that a coded lightnetwork may be set up, or commissioned, by way of an association processwhich is enabled, in response to a user request, only during a limitedtime period. For the purpose of describing the present invention, thetask of setting up a coded light network amounts to associating thesatellite light sources comprised in the network with a central lightsource of the network. This is achieved by way of an associationprocess.

To this end, a coded light network comprises a central light source, atleast one satellite light source, and a controller for adjusting lightsettings, i.e., properties of the emitted light, of the light sourcescomprised in the network. The communication between the controller andthe central light source is effected by way of a first communicationlink, which is preferably based on a wireless radio-frequencytechnology. The communication between the central light source and thesatellite light sources is effected by means of a second communicationlink, which is based on visible coded light, i.e., by modulatinginformation onto the emitted light and by demodulating coded lightreceived by a light detector. When setting up a coded light network, thecentral light source may be associated with the controller by way ofproximity detection, as is known in the art. The satellite light sourcesmay be associated with the central light source by way of an associationrequest, initiated by a user of the light network by way of thecontroller. The association request is transmitted, using coded light,from the central light source to the satellite light sources. Inresponse to receiving the association request, and under the conditionthat an association process is enabled, the satellite light sourcestransmit their respective identifiers over the second communicationlink. In response to receiving the identifiers of the satellite lightsources at the central light source, the satellite light sources whichhave transmitted an identifier are associated with the central lightsource, and, by virtue of the first communication link between thecentral light source and the controller, with the controller of thecoded light network. After the satellite light sources of the networkhave been associated with the central light source of the network, alllight sources comprised in the network may be controlled, eitherindividually or collectively, by means of the controller.

Transmitting the identifier of a satellite lighting device, therebyenabling an association between the satellite lighting device and thecentral light source receiving the identifier, only if an associationprocess is enabled is advantageous since it mitigates the risk ofinterference from satellite light sources of neighboring lightingsystems. In this way, the risk for accidental associations may bereduced. The association process may be enabled by a user of the codedlight network, as is described hereinafter.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the association process isenabled during a predetermined time period after the satellite lightingdevice has been powered on for the first time. This is advantageoussince a satellite lighting device which has just been installed is readyto be associated with a central light source of the network when it ispowered on. The time period is typically of the order of a few secondsor a few tens of seconds.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the satellite lightingdevice further comprises a user-operable element. The associationprocess is enabled during a predetermined time period after theuser-operable element has been operated. This is advantageous since anexisting association of a satellite lighting device with a centrallighting device may be reset and the satellite lighting device may,subsequently, be re-associated. The user-operable element may, e.g., bea button or a switch which the satellite lighting device is equippedwith. The reset is simply performed by pressing the button. The timeperiod is typically of the order of a few seconds or a few tens ofseconds.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the associationprocess is enabled during a predetermined time period after a resetrequest is received by the communication means. The reset request ispreferably received by means of coded light. For instance, a user of acoded light network may use a dedicated light emitting device beingarranged for emitting a reset request by means of coded light. Forinstance, the user may use a device resembling a torch or a laserpointer for enabling the association process during a predetermined timeperiod. This is advantageous in that the user may select a satellitelighting device, which he or she wants to associate, by simply pointingthe dedicated light emitting device at the satellite lighting device.The time period is typically of the order of a few seconds or a few tensof seconds.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the communication means foreffecting the communication by means of coded light is arranged fortransmitting data over the second communication link by modulating thelight emitted by the light source. The communication means is furtherarranged for receiving data over the second communication link bydemodulating light detected by a light detector. The light detector ispreferably arranged at the lighting device such that ambient light mayreach the detector.

According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, thecontrolling means is further arranged for receiving light settings overthe first communication link, adjusting the properties of the emittedlight in accordance with the light settings, and transmitting the lightsettings over the second communication link. The properties of theemitted light are adjusted under the condition that the light settingsare intended for the lighting device.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, thecontrolling means is further arranged for receiving light settings overthe second communication link, and adjusting properties of the emittedlight in accordance with the light settings. The properties of theemitted light are adjusted under the condition that the light settingsare intended for the lighting device. This is advantageous since thelight settings of the light sources comprised in a coded light networkmay be individually adjusted, as is desired by a user of the network.This may, e.g., be achieved by transmitting, together with the lightsettings, one or several identifiers of lighting devices for which thetransmitted light settings are intended. When the light settings arereceived at a lighting device, either at a central lighting device or ata satellite lighting device, the lighting device compares the identifierreceived with the light settings to its own identifier. If theidentifiers match, the lighting device adjusts its light settings inaccordance with the received light settings.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a lighting system isprovided. The lighting system comprises a central lighting device, asatellite lighting device, and a lighting control device. The lightingcontrol device and the central lighting device are arranged forcommunicating over the first communication link. The central lightingdevice and the satellite lighting device are arranged for communicatingover the second communication link. The lighting control device isarranged for transmitting an association request over the firstcommunication link. The association request is transmitted in responseto a user request. A lighting system, i.e., a coded light network,according to an embodiment of the invention is advantageous in that itcomprises not only light sources which are capable of communicatingthrough the first communication link, i.e., through ZigBee, WiFi, orBluetooth, but also satellite light sources which only communicatethough coded light. By utilizing a central light source and one or moresatellite light sources, the costs for a lighting system may be reduced.

Even though embodiments of the present invention, and advantagesthereof, have in some cases been described with reference to thelighting devices according to the first and second aspect of theinvention, respectively, corresponding reasoning applies to embodimentsof the method according to the third aspect of the invention.

Further objectives of, features of, and advantages with, the presentinvention will become apparent when studying the following detaileddisclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. Those skilled in theart realize that different features of the present invention can becombined to create embodiments other than those described in thefollowing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of thepresent invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a lighting system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a satellite light bulb according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates the usage of a lighting system according to anembodiment of the invention.

All the FIGS. are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generallyonly show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention,wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a lighting system according to an embodiment of the inventionis

illustrated.

Lighting system 100 comprises a central lighting device 111, twosatellite lighting devices 121 and 131, and a user-operable remotecontrol 141 for adjusting light settings of lighting system 100, i.e.,the properties of light 112, 122, and 132, emitted by lighting devices111, 121, and 131, respectively. In FIG. 1, lighting devices 111, 121,and 131, are illustrated as light bulbs which may, e.g., be mounted inlamps 110, 120, and 130, respectively.

A user 140 of lighting system 100 may adjust properties of the emittedlight 112, 122, and 132, using remote control 141. Properties of theemitted light include, but are not limited to, on/off, intensity, colortemperature, beam width, or color. This may, e.g., be achieved bypressing buttons or moving levers on remote control 141. Remote control141 is arranged for, in response to a user request, transmittinginformation, i.e., data, pertaining to a desired light setting over afirst communication link 142 by means of a wireless radio-frequencybased technology, such as ZigBee, WiFi, or Bluetooth. The communicationover the first communication link may be effected in accordance with afirst protocol. The information carried over the first communicationlink 142 is received by central lighting device 111. Central lightingdevice 111 is arranged for, in response to receiving the light settings,adjusting the properties of the emitted light 112 in accordance with thereceived light settings. Central lighting device 111 is further arrangedfor re-transmitting, in response to receiving the light settings, thelight settings over a second communication link. The communication overthe second communication link is effected by way of coded light, i.e.,by modulating data onto the emitted light 112. The communication overthe second communication link may be effected in accordance with asecond protocol. The information transmitted by way of coded light 112may subsequently be received by satellite lighting devices 121 and 131,which are arranged for adjusting the properties of emitted light 122 and132, respectively, in accordance with the received light settings.

For lighting system 100 to work as is described hereinbefore, lightingdevices 111, 121, and 131, are set up as a network such that informationoriginating from remote control 141, e.g., light settings, may bereceived by the intended lighting devices 111, 121, and 131. In otherwords, lighting devices 111, 121, and 131, have to be associated withremote control 141. This may be achieved by associating central lightingdevice 111 with remote control 141, and satellite lighting devices 121and 131 with central lighting device 111, thereby effectively linkingsatellite lighting devices 121 and 131 with remote control 141.

The association between central lighting device 111 and remote control141, i.e., the first communication link, may, e.g., be established byway of proximity detection, as is known in the art. As an alternative,the association may also be established by performing a setting atremote control 141, e.g., by entering an identifier of central lightingdevice 111, or by way of hard-coding the identifier at remote control141.

The association between satellite lighting devices 121 and 131,respectively, and central lighting device 111 may be established bytransmitting information, i.e., data, comprising an association request,from central lighting device 111 to satellite lighting devices 121 and131. The association request is transmitted in response to a userrequest. For instance, user 140 of lighting system 100 may press adedicated button on remote control 141, thereby initiating theassociation process. Alternatively, the association request may betransmitted when the power button, or any other button, of remotecontrol 141, is hold down for a short time. As yet a furtheralternative, the association process may be initiated at the same timewhen the association between central lighting device 111 and remotecontrol 141 is effected, e.g., by means of proximity detection.

To this end, the association request message is sent over the secondcommunication link, i.e., by means of coded light 112. In response toreceiving the association request message, satellite lighting devices121 and 131 transmit their respective identifiers back to centrallighting device 111, under the condition that an association process isenabled at satellite lighting devices 121 and 131. In other words,satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 receiving the association requestrespond to the request only if an association has been enabled, i.e., isallowed, by user 140 of lighting system 100. In response to receivingthe identifiers of satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 at centrallighting device 111, the association process is completed by storingassociations with satellite lighting devices 121 and 131. Storing anassociation may, e.g., be effected by storing the received identifiersin a memory at central lighting device 111. Alternatively, centrallighting device 111 may transmit information pertaining to theassociations, such as the received identifiers, to remote control 141,subsequent to which the identifiers are stored at remote control 141.After satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 have been associated withcentral lighting device 111, and, effectively, with remote control 141,user 140 may adjust the light settings of either of the lighting devices111, 121, or 131, by using remote control 141.

The association process is restricted, as is described hereinbefore, toa limited time period controlled by user 140 of lighting system 100. Inthis way, the risk of accidental associations, which may be caused byassociation requests originating from a neighboring lighting system, maybe reduced. To this end, satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 arearranged for performing an association only with assent from user 140 oflighting system 100. For instance, according to an embodiment of theinvention, satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 may be arranged foraccepting an association request received from central lighting device111, and transmitting their respective identifier, only during a certaintime period after satellite lighting devices 121 and 131 have beenpowered on for the first time.

With respect to FIG. 2, a satellite lighting device according to anotherembodiment of the invention is described.

Satellite lighting device 200, in FIG. 2 illustrated as a light bulb,comprises a light source 201, a receiver 202 for receiving information,i.e., data, transmitted by means of coded light over the secondcommunication link, and a button 203. Light source 201 may, e.g., be asolid-state light source which is arranged for emitting coded light bymodulating the emitted light. Receiver 202 comprises an optical sensor,i.e., a light detector, for detecting visible light and means forextracting the information carried by the coded light. Button 203 may beused for enabling an association process for satellite lighting device200, such as satellite lighting devices 121 and 131, with a centrallighting device, such as central lighting device 111, described withreference to FIG. 1. This may be accomplished by pressing button 203,subsequent to which satellite lighting device is arranged to respond toan association request by transmitting its identifier over the secondcommunication link.

It will be appreciated that, even though optical sensor 202 and button203 are depicted to be arranged on the side of light bulb 200, otherlocations of sensor 202 and button 203 may easily be envisaged.Preferably, button 203 is arranged such that it is easily accessible bya user, and sensor 202 is arranged such that ambient light may bedetected.

In FIG. 3, it is illustrated how user 140 of lighting system 100,described with reference to FIG. 1, may perform the association of asatellite lighting device, e.g., lighting device 121, with centrallighting device 111.

First 301, user 140 presses a button on satellite lighting device 121,such as button 203 on satellite lighting device 200, described withreference to FIG. 2, for enabling the association process. Subsequently303, user 140 presses a button on remote control 141 of lighting system100. In response to pressing the button, remote control 141 transmits anassociation request to central lighting device 111 which, in turn,re-transmits the association request to satellite lighting device 121.Under the condition that satellite lighting device 121 has received theassociation request during the time period which is started by pressingthe button on satellite lighting device 121, thereby enabling theassociation process, satellite lighting device 121 transmits itsidentifier to central lighting device 111 which effects the association.After the association has been performed, unless a re-association to adifferent central lighting device is performed, satellite lightingdevice 121 will adjust its light settings in accordance with receivedlight settings intended for lighting device 121, under the conditionthat the light settings are transmitted by central lighting device 111,which, in turn, has received control information from remote control141.

With reference to FIG. 3, the usage of an alternative embodiment of thesatellite lighting device, such as satellite lighting devices 121 and131, described with reference to FIG. 1, or satellite lighting device200, described with reference to FIG. 2, is described. According to anembodiment of the invention, the satellite lighting device may bearranged for transmitting its identifier in response to receiving anassociation request only during a time interval which starts whensatellite lighting device 121 is powered on for the first time. Thismay, e.g., be achieved by starting a timer, which satellite lightingdevice 121 is equipped with, when satellite lighting device 121 ispowered on for the first time, e.g., when a lamp fitted with satellitelighting device 121 is connected to an electrical outlet, as isillustrated in step 302.

Even though the invention has been described with respect to a lightingsystem, or a coded light network, comprising one central light sourceand at least one satellite light source, one may envisage lightingsystems comprising more than one central light source. If a plurality ofcentral light sources is used, all central light sources may, e.g., beassociated with one and the same lighting controller and may becontrolled either collectively or individually. Optionally, the centrallight sources may be linked with different lighting controllers and maybe controlled individually.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by nomeans is limited to the embodiments described above. On the contrary,many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of theappended claims. For example, an embodiment of the central lightingdevice may further comprise means for converting information receivedover the first communication link before re-transmitting the informationover the second communication link. For this purpose, the centrallighting device may be equipped with means for converting the firstprotocol to the second protocol, and vice versa.

In conclusion, a lighting system comprising a central lighting device,at least one satellite lighting device, and a controller for adjustinglight settings, is provided. The controller is arranged fortransmitting, in response to a user request, an association request overa first communication link. The central lighting device is arranged forreceiving the association request and re-transmitting the associationrequest over a second communication link by means of coded light. Thesatellite lighting device is arranged for transmitting, in response toreceiving the association request, its identifier to the centrallighting device. The identifier is only transmitted if an associationprocess is enabled. The association process is enabled, in response to auser request, during a limited time period. The central lighting deviceis further arranged for associating, in response to receiving theidentifier, the satellite lighting device with the central lightingdevice.

1. A lighting device comprising: a light source being arranged foremitting coded light, first communication means being arranged fortransmitting and receiving data over a first communication, secondcommunication means being arranged for transmitting and receiving dataover a second communication link by means of the coded light, andcontrolling means being arranged for: receiving an association requestover the first, communication link, transmitting the association requestover the second communication link, receiving an identifier of asatellite lighting device over the second communication link, andassociating the satellite lighting device with the lighting device. 2.The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the secondcommunication means is arranged for: transmitting data over the secondcommunication link by modulating the light emitted by the light source,and receiving data over the second communication link by demodulatinglight detected by a light detector.
 3. The lighting device according toclaim 1, wherein the controlling means is further arranged for:receiving light settings over the first communication link, adjusting,under the condition that the light settings are intended for thelighting device, the properties of the emitted light in accordance withthe light settings, and transmitting the light settings over the secondcommunication link.
 4. A lighting device comprising: a light sourcebeing arranged for emitting coded light, communication means beingarranged for transmitting and receiving data over a second communicationlink by means of the coded light, and controlling means being arrangedfor: receiving an association request over the second communicationlink, and transmitting, under the condition that an association processis enabled, an identifier of the lighting device over the secondcommunication link.
 5. The lighting device according to claim 4, whereinthe association process is enabled during a predetermined time periodafter the lighting device has been powered on for the first time.
 6. Thelighting device according to claim 4, further comprising a user-operableelement, wherein the association process is enabled during apredetermined time period after the user-operable element has beenoperated.
 7. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein theassociation process is enabled during a predetermined time period aftera reset request is received by the communication means.
 8. The lightingdevice according to claim 4, wherein the communication means is arrangedfor: transmitting data over the second communication link by modulatingthe light emitted by the light source, and receiving data over thesecond communication link by demodulating light detected by a lightdetector.
 9. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein thecontrolling means is further arranged for: receiving light, settingsover the second communication link, and adjusting, under the conditionthat the light, settings are intended for the lighting device,properties of the emitted light in accordance with the light settings.10. A lighting system comprising: a central lighting device according toclaim 1, a satellite lighting device, and a lighting control device, thelighting control device and the central lighting device being arrangedfor communicating over the first communication link, and the centrallighting device and the satellite lighting device being arranged forcommunicating over the second communication link, wherein the lightingcontrol device is arranged for transmitting, in response to a userrequest, an association request over the first communication link. 11.The lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the lighting controldevice is further arranged for transmitting, in response to a userrequest, light settings intended for the central lighting device, thesatellite lighting device, or both, over the first communication link.12-15. (canceled)